St.Attracta%20Patron%20Saint%20of%20our%20School%20and%20Parish

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St.AttractaPatron Saint of our School and Parish
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Saint Attractas family life

• Attractas great grandfather was Coelbadius, who
  was the King of Ireland a short time before St.
  Patrick came.
• St. Attracta was born around the year 420 A.D. in
  Co. Sligo.
• Both St. Attracta and her brother were to become
  Saints. Her brothers name is St. Coeman.
• St. Attracta was a very thoughtful child but she
  was also strong and determined. She prayed a lot
  and gave money to the poor (almsgiving).
• When she was a teenager she had many suitors but
  Attracta decided that she wanted to give her life
  completely to God and not be married.
• A friend of hers, Mitain, also decided to
  dedicate her life to God alone.

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Attractas life

• Attracta and her friend Mitain decided to leave
  their homes (so that they wouldnt be forced to
  marry) and journeyed to meet St. Patrick at
  Coolavin in Co. Sligo about the year 435.
• They told St. Patrick of their wish to belong
  completely to God. They were given instruction
  by St. Patrick and one day they became
  consecrated as nuns to the service of God and His
  Church.

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Patron Saints in Ireland

• Both Saint Attracta and Saint Brigid (featured on
  the left) are the special Irish patronesses of
  nuns and the first foundresses of convents in
  Ireland. Both Saints were blessed by St.
  Patrick.
• At the age of 16, Attracta joined St. Patricks
  workers and soon she became the Abbess of a
  convent which she founded beside Lough Gara. It
  is said that St. Patrick left her his chalice.

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Gift of hospitality

• St. Attracta had a special concern and care for
  those who travelled long journeys.
• She wanted to found a place where travellers from
  all over could find warm hospitality. In those
  days there were no paved roads and travelling was
  difficult and dangerous.
• Her servant Mochain found a place where seven
  roads meet and showed it to Attracta. She was
  delighted because she knew that many travellers
  would pass that way and could find shelter and
  company at her new house.
• She established a Bruigheen or house of
• hospitality on the site, now called Killaraght.

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A Church dedicated to St. Attracta at Killaraght
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• After her death this house of hospitality
  continued to serve poor travellers right down to
  the Reformation when, in 1539, the Irish
  monasteries were confiscated under Henry VIII.
• Later the house was given to Sir John King and
  his descendant, Lord Kingston, in 1692.
• We know that the hostel (which was also a
  hospital) was used for hospitality for over 1000
  years.
• Attracta was loved and respected by those living
  in the area.
• They admired her great virtue and they often
  asked her advice before making any important
  decisions. She was often called upon to help
  settle land disputes. Decisions would not be
  handed down until they had been approved by St.
  Attracta.

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Miracles associated with Attracta

• In the parish of Kilmacteige (Co. Sligo), close
  to St. Attractas well (see picture below), there
  is a glen, called Lug na Paiste or the Hollow
  of the Beast.
• There was a vicious beast that roamed the area
  and had been terrorising the neighbourhood.
• Bec, the Chief of the area, asked Attracta to
  come and visit him. He told her of his
  difficulties and asked her to implore God so that
  he would be rid of the beast. Furthermore, he
  promised that she could keep the land that the
  beast roamed when she had slain it. (continued
  on next slide)

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Miracles of St. Attracta continued

• Attracta replied He who created the world out of
  nothing and who formed man in his image from the
  earth, can instantly effect your deliverance.
• She walked towards the wall beyond which lay the
  beast. She knelt down and prayed deeply and
  earnestly that God would show his glory in
  granting the Chiefs desires.
• The beast roared like a lion and stood upright.
  He started to charge towards Attracta.
• Attracta, having made the sign of the cross,
  extended her rod towards him. The beast seized it
  with open jaws and immediately dropped lifeless
  to the ground.

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• Miracles of St. Attracta continued

Another time the people of Lugna were surrounded
on three sides by the armies of Connacht. The
shore of Lough Gara lay to the other side. The
chief of Lugna told Attracta of his plight. She
told the army of Lugna Be not afraid, trust only
in the God who is the creator of all things and
who is able to deliver you from every danger
His servant am I. Follow me and let none of you
look back but advance after me in a forward
direction. She prayed to God, that just as the
Israelites travelled across the Red Sea with
Moses, so would the people of Lugna travel across
Lough Gara to safety. Suddenly, the waters
divided and a passage was made to the opposite
shore. Thus the people of Lugna were saved.
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St. Attracta in recent times

• Devotion to St. Attracta continued among the
  people of Achonry and in 1864 Pope Pius IX
  reintroduced the special Mass to St. Attracta on
  her feast day, which is celebrated on 11th
  August.
• The Pope also instructed that a church should be
  dedicated to St. Attracta. The church at
  Tourlestrane, now parish church of Kilmacteige,
  was dedicated to St. Attracta shortly afterwards.

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St. Attractas well

• In the parts of the country in which St. Attracta
  carried out her ministries there survive many
  strong traditions.
• There are at least seven wells named after St.
  Attracta (Tobar Athracht) and they are visited
  regularly, especially on 11th August. The
  carving below, to the left, is featured at St.
  Attractas Well.
• At Glenavoo, in the parish of Tourlestrane, there
  is still a substantial pilgrimage to her well on
  the Sunday nearest her feast.
• This is a great social occasion. It is also, of
  course, a time for prayer and Mass is said on a
  simple altar decorated by the people.
• Private devotions at The Well take place
  throughout the summer months, centred around the
  Rosary.

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St. Attractas Well
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Honouring St. Attractas name

• Our school in Meadowbrook was dedicated to St.
  Attracta in 1977 and our oratory was dedicated to
  her in 1981.
• The name Attracta has long been used as a
  Christian name for girls in the Achonry area of
  Co. Sligo. It was popular in Dublin in the 1930s
  and 40s and one of the new roads in Cabra was
  named after her.

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St. Nathy

• The name of Saint Attracta is often associated
  with that of Saint Nathy (featured to the left on
  the stained-glass window). They are both patrons
  of Achonry.
• Many churches and chapels in the diocese are
  dedicated to each of these saints.
• St. Nathy is also associated with the area. He
  was a student at Tallaght and established a cell
  in Dundrum. This house was called Teach nDaithi
  which evolved to Teaa Nay and eventually the
  name of the parish became known as Taney. His
  feast day is on the 9th August.

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The legacy of St. Attracta

• St. Attracta was a kind, giving but firm woman.
  To the poor and homeless she was a compassionate
  mother figure to whom they could go for help.
• She was much respected as a wise advisor by those
  who were in positions of power and authority.
• Her prayers are sought today for the sick and
  poor and in times of conflict when practical
  wisdom is needed.
• When we are praying let us include prayers to St.
  Attracta for ourselves, our families, our parish
  and our school.

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• St. Attracta, pray for us
• A Naomh Athracht, guigh orainn